Spurs dominate NBA regional cable TV network ratings

The unexpectedly strong season has captured the attention of television viewers across Spurs Nation.

According to statistics compiled by the Sports Business Daily, the Spurs’ average television rating for their cable games on Fox Sports Southwest average a 10.19 rating. That total is nearly double the second-place team in the league, Utah with a 5.60 for its games on Root Sports.

The Spurs’ ratings for games on FSN this season are up 51.9 percent from a comparable time last season.

The Spurs also rank fifth in total viewership with an average viewership of 86,000 homes per game, a strong number considering the small relative size of the San Antonio viewing area against some of the teams in the NBA’s larger markets. The Spurs trail only the Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago, New York and Boston.

Playoff opponent Memphis ranks third in total viewership with an average viewership of 17,000 homes per game. The Grizzlies’ number is up 54.5 percent from last season, but is still only ahead of bottom feeder Charlotte and Milwaukee.

These numbers show the strong support for the Fox Sports Southwest broadcasts for games this season. But FSN’s run will continue only through the end of first round of the playoffs, when potential games from there would be carried only by the NBA’s national broadcasting partners. So enjoy Bill Land, Sean Elliott, Rick Renner, Richard Oliver, Andrew Monaco and Co. while you can.

Here’s a look at the Sports Business Journal’s compilations. And as you look at the increases across the league, do you wonder why the NBA owners are considering a lockout?

Average cable ratings

Top 5 teams

Team Regional sports network Avg. rating (change)

San Antonio Fox Sports Southwest 10.19 (+51.9%)

Utah Root Sports 5.60 (+1.8%)

Miami Sun Sports 4.94 (+99.2%)

L.A. Lakers Fox Sports West 4.79 (+35.3%)

Boston CSN New England 4.73 (+52.6%)

Bottom 5 teams

Team Regional sports network Avg. rating (change)

Atlanta Sports South 1.17 (-39.4%)

Washington CSN Mid-Atlantic 1.15 (-3.4%)

Charlotte Sports South 1.02 (+8.5%)

L.A. Clippers Prime Ticket 0.99 (+130.2%)

New Jersey YES 0.29 (+0.0%)

Rating change

Top 5 teams

Team Regional sports network Change (2010-11 avg. rating)

L.A. Clippers Prime Ticket +130.2% (0.99)

Miami Sun Sports +99.2% (4.94)

Chicago CSN Chicago +90.6% (4.48)

New York MSG +88.7% (1.83)

Minnesota Fox Sports North +71.2 (1.25)

Bottom 5 teams

Team Regional sports network Change (2010-11 avg. rating)

Denver Altitude -20.6% (2.20)

Detroit Fox Sports Detroit -24.2% (1.60)

Milwaukee Fox Sports Wisconsin -38.6% (1.40)

Atlanta Sports South -39.4% (1.17)

Cleveland Fox Sports Ohio -54.0% (3.93)

Viewership

Top 5 teams

Team Regional sports network Avg. no. of HHS (change)

L.A. Lakers Fox Sports West 271,000 (+35.5%)

Chicago CSN Chicago 157,000 (+91.5%)

New York MSG 138,000 (+89.0%)

Boston CSN New England 116,000 (+54.7%)

San Antonio Fox Sports Southwest 86,000 (+53.6%)

Bottom 5 teams

Team Regional sports network Avg. no. of HHS (change)

Minnesota Fox Sports North 22,000 (+69.2%)

New Jersey YES 22,000 (+0.0%)

Oklahoma City Fox Sports Oklahoma 21,000 (+50.0%)

Memphis Sports South 17,000 (+54.5%)

Milwaukee Fox Sports Wisconsin 13,000 (-38.1%)

Charlotte Sports South 12,000 (+9.1%)

Source: Sports Business Journal.

Note: Information on New Orleans and Toronto franchises were not available. Data is for games played through April 11, 2011, and the comparable number of games in the 2009-10 season.